Pattern controlled means for varying terry weaving operations



Dec. 13, 39% E. c. NICHOLS fifi p PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING TERRY WEAVING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l (Z is INVENTOR. EDWHFZD CNICHOLS.

WWW

ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1966 E. c. NICHOLS 3,291,353 PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING TERRY WEAVING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EDWARD C.NlCHOLS- A T TORNE Y Dec. 13, 1966 PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING Filed Dec. 28, 1964 E. c. NICHOLS 3,291,158

D rfw r xx INVENTOR. l EDWHRDGNICHOLS.

BYQMQW ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1966 E. c. NICHOLS PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING TERRY WEAVING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. EDWARD C.NlCHOL$ TTORNEY 291 1% 6 E. c. NICHOLS 1 Dec. 13 PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING TERRY WEAVING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 6 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR. EDWQED QNICHOLS.

42M QM ATTQRALEY Dec. 13, 1966 E. c. NICHOLS 3,291,158

PATTERN CONTROLLED MEANS FOR VARYING TERRY WEAVING OPERATIONS Filed Dec. 28, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

f EDWHFZD NICHOLS.

A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,291,158 PATTERN CONTRULLED MEANfi FOR VARYHNG TERRY WEAVHNG OPERATIONS Edward C. Nichols, Upton, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Mame Filed Dec. 28, 1964. Ser. No. 421,318 6 @laims. (Cl. 139-25) This invention pertains to textile machinery and particularly to pattern controlled means for effecting changes in operational procedures.

It is a general object of the invention to provide mproved means for starting, stopping or modifying a variety of mechanical operations at predetermined intervals 1n accordance with a multiple choice pattern selection.

It is a more specific object of the invention to improve the means in a loom which effects changing alternately between terry and plain weaving.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simplified mechanical means which will initiate, upon a signal from a patterning means, the steps necessary to change from terry weaving to plain weaving and subsequently back to terry and the additional steps of changing to or from the insertion in the warp sheds of normal picks and pinch picks.

It is a further object of the invention to provide pattern controlled means comprising a plurality of movable elements each of which, upon being moved to a particular position, will remain therein until being subsequently released to return to its original position.

It is a still further object to provide a terry-weaving change mechanism which will be readily altered when variations in the change pattern are required.

A further object of the invention is to devise a terry change mechanism which will be smaller, have fewer parts and will be less costly to manufacture than is the case with those mechanisms presently in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

The invention will be explained by means of a preferred embodiment for use with a single shuttle bobbin-change loom, but it should be understood that it would be adaptable in a loom with box motions for selecting a choice of shuttles or for actuation by a multiplier with the well understood chain mechanisms.

A large portion of the production of .so-called Turkish Towels or terry towels is woven upon looms which have patterning means for forming each towel with a central section of full terry weave and the ends of each towel with varying width stripes of alternating plain and terry weaves. To move the various loom parts in order to accomplish the changes in the operation at predetermined points in each towel, a multiplier is generally used. The instant in vention is intended to replace the multiplier mechanism upon a terry type loom by providing a device which will require less adjustment, will require less space on the loom, will be less costly to install, and will be much cleaner in operation and in the replacement of its patternmg means.

Looms for weaving terry material generally have a ground warp beam-to furnish yarn under normal tension and a pile Warp beam to supply the pile yarn for loops under a low, intermittent tension. The reed is adapted to beat up by following a three-pick cycle, although four or even more picks do sometimes form the cycle for terry weaving. With the three-pick cycle, the reed is controlled to beat up two picks of filling to a predetermined point in back to the tell of the cloth and after the third pick has been laid, to beat all three into the fell together. The three picks of each cycle will slide upon the ground warp ends which are taut, but the pile warp ends, which are measurably let off at each third pick, will be drawn to the fell and 3',Z9l,l58

Patented Dec. 13, 1966 lcc Will form the terry loops as desired. The distance from the fell which the first and second picks are initially placed by the reed will determine the height or length of the pile loops and may be adjusted at will. The reed is adapted to make full and partial beat-ups by means which are common in the prior art and which may be withdrawn from action by further means that form a .part of the instant invention to be further explained below.

In the production of terry towels having stripes or bands of plain weaving at each end, it is necessary to insert changes into the weaving procedure at predetermined intervals which will be made automatically and without interruption as the loom continues to weave. The changes, above-mentioned, may be continued for controlled periods of time and then reverted to an original weaving procedure by improved means disclosed herein.

The invention will be described by reference to a spe cific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the pattern controlled device as applied to a terry loom;

FIG. 2 is an elevation from the left-hand side of the loom showing the connection with the pile beam left-off;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of some underneath parts of the loom and in particular the connection with the terry cam follower;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the lower left-hand side showing the connection with the take-up release mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a rear view in perspective of the pattern indicating means and the pile beam let-off pawl;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation of the indicating means and the controlled means with some intervening parts rcmoved; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the parts show-n in FIG. 6.

The preferred embodiment of the instant invention will be explained in conjunction with a two-beam terry loom in which three separate loom functions may be commenced or discontinued individually in a predetermined pattern. If desired, more and different functions could be controlled by this means and would only require additional actuating and locking levers being placed in suitable operating positions.

In the manufacture of terry towels it is often necessary to insert varying-width bands of plain weaving at both ends of each towel or throughout the body and to also allow a non-woven separation strip to be formed between each towel. A simplified means for accomplishing these changes in the loo-m operation will be disclosed herein.

Two changes in the operating procedure of the loom are necessary to produce the plain woven fabric necessary in the formation of ornamental stripes. The terry cam lever must be removed from contact with the oscillating shaft which will discontinue that action of the reed whereby partial beat-ups are rendered to the first two picks of each cycle. Secondly, the pile beam must be checked from positively letting 0E yarn and controlled so that pile yarn is let off under tension. A third change in the operating procedure is desirable for producing a better grade of fabric when inserting a stripe of plain Weaving. The take-up motion can be disconnected for a cycle or two which will allow the filling to form so-called pinch picks. This method will eliminate the usual crack or thin place by inserting picks without taking up the material.

A multiplier mechanism is generally used in signalling the changes in patterning and it is with simplified improvements for accomplishing those changes that this invention is concerned.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the pattern controlled unit generally indicated 19 is fastened to a plate 26 bolted to a bracket 21 which in turn 'is firmly supported upon the upright framework 22 of a well-known terry loom. A pattern indicating device generally designated 23 (FIG. 1) is familiar to those in the weaving and knitting arts as a Jacquard mechanism and its operation and component parts are explained in United States Patent No. 2,861,443 and others. Those parts which directly affect the instant invention comprise a slotted drum 24 fixed to a shaft 25. A Geneva wheel 26 is also fixed to shaft and is in position to be acted upon by a pin (not shOWn) inserted into the fact of a gear 27 which is driven by another gear 28. Gear 28 is rotated by a ratchet wheel 29 which is turned by a link chain 30 connected to any suitable continually rotating loom shaft (not shown). The gearing ratio is such that the gear 27 will make one revolution during the insertion of three picks of filling and thereby will index the Geneva wheel 26 one tooth and the drum 24 one longitudinal slot in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

An endless pattern tape 31 of Mylar or any suitable material is carried by the drum 24 and its function is clearly explained in the abovementioned patent. Surface deformations upon the tape 31 are, in the preferred embodiment, formed by punching round perforations spaced to coincide with the slots of the drum-24 and in any one of six vertical rows so as to be contacted in a manner to be further explained.

A plurality of selector fingers 32 (FIGS. 1 and 6) are pivoted at 33 with each finger having a downwardly urged pin 34 positioned near the forward end. The pins 34 are adapted to drop through any perforation in the tape 31 to a slot in the rotated drum 24. This action will move the chosen finger 32 rearwardly the extent of an aperture 35 (FIG. 6) against the normal forward urging of a tension spring 36. As one or more fingers 32 are chosen by the prepared pattern of the tape 31, they are moved rearwardly and are in position to be acted upon by a continually reciprocating transverse lifter bar 37 which is timed to rise after each third pick and to lift any of the levers 32 which may have been chosen by the pattern tape. The action of the lifter bar 37 forms no part of this invention but is completely explained in the above-cited US. patent.

The pattern controlled uni-t 19 will now be explained and its relation with the changing of various weaving operations to produce both terry and plain material. Two triangular shaped brackets 38 and 39 are held vertically spaced apart by the plate 20. Three rods 40, 41 and 42 extend horizontally between the three apexes of each of the brackets and are threaded at each end to receive a nut as at 43. Three actuating levers 44, 45 and 46 shaped as bell-cranks are supported and are pivotally movable upon the rod with separating sleeves 47 therebetween. Each of the actuating levers 44, and 46 has a downwardly extending arm 48 which stops just above and is in a vertical plane with the first of a respective pair of pattern follower selector fingers 32. The arm 48 is stopped just short of pressure contact on the finger 32 by the rod 41 which acts as a stopping surface for each of the levers 44, 45 and 46 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7).

To review briefly the operation of the mechanism disclosed thus far, refer to FIG. 6. The rotation of the drum 24 will move the pattern tape 31 in a counterclockwise direction. This movement will continue intermittently step by step with no reaction by the finger 32 until a perforation in the tape 31 is encountered, at which time the pin 34 will be pressed into the groove and the finger 32 moved rearwardly so that an under surface 49 of the finger 32 will be contacted and raised by the lifter bar 37. As the finger 32 is raised, the corresponding actuating lever 46 will be pivoted from its normal operating position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, to a secondary operating position, shown in dotted lines. It will be understood that the actuating levers 44, 45 and 46 will each coact with one of a pair of selector fingers 32; the first of each pair will initiate pivotal movement to its lever as explained above while the second of each pair will serve in a manner to be explained.

A locking lever 50 (FIGS. 6 and 7) for each actuating lever is pivotally supported on rod 42. The locking lever 50 is positioned to pivot generally in a vertical plane adjacent to the plane in which the actuating lever 46 moves, except that a pointed upper tip end 51 is curved to overlay the rearward surface 52 of the lever 46. The locking lever has a downwardly extending arm 51' which stops above and is in a vertical plane with the second of said pair of pattern follower selector fingers. A tension spring 53 is attached at one end to the locking lever 50 and at the other to a ring 54 held by the rod 40. Thus the tip end 51 presses against the surface 52 so that when the actuating lever 46 is pivoted to the secondary operating position, the tip end 51 will fall into a locking notch 55 in the surface 52 (FIG. 6). There is one individual locking lever 50 for each actuating lever 44, 45 and 46 (only one shown in FIGS. 6 and 7).

A selector finger 32, the second of each pair, is positioned in a vertical plane beneath each of the locking levers 50, so that when any one or all locking levers 50 is selected to be released by the dictates of the pattern tape 31, its particular selector finger 32 will be drawn backward and then upward into contact with arm 51'. This will pivot the locking lever tip 51 out of the notch 55 and will allow the actuating lever 46 to return to its normal operating position. FIG. 7 shows in a plan view an actuating lever 46 and its coacting locking lever 50 in the proper relationship to each other. The tip end 51 is shown overlying a portion of the actuating lever and each lever has a selector finger 32 beneath it in position to impart pivotal motion when selected. It should be understood that in the preferred embodiment there are three of each of the levers and six selector fingers. More pairs could be readily applied should it be desirable to control other functions.

A mechanism embodying the instant invention may direct a controlled element to move to a certain position and to remain in that position through any number of indexing steps of the pattern drum or until it is selectively released and allowed to return to the original position. Pattern mechanisms of the perforated-pattern type, as commonly used, are capable of only a single selection at each indexing of the pattern drum and in order to repeat the selection they must be actuated by consecutive indexings. It will be evident that the instant invention may be used with pattern controlling devices in which the pattern is preset by means of projections or otherwise in place of perforations in a tape.

In the embodiment herein the actuating levers 44, 45 and 46 are interconnected by linkage means to three loom mechanisms which perform changes in weaving operations. In FIGS. 1 and 6 the actuating levers are shown in the normal operating position whereby the loom is set to weave terry material and will continue to do so until a pattern selection initiates a change. The loom mecha- 11181115 for changing the weaving operations will be briefly explained.

Any convenient linkage means may be used, but in this case a wire 56 is secured near the upper end of the lever 44 by a fastener 57 (FIG. 1). The wire 56 extends through the bracket 21 at a grommet 58 and may run through a flexible shield 59 (FIGS. 2 and 5) rearward of the loom to a position above a ratchet 60 of the conventional pile warp let-off mechanism. The wire 56 is connected to one end of a tension spring 61, the other end of which is adapted to raise and lower a ratchet pawl 62. The let-off mechanism is adapted to positively let off lengths of yarn when the pawl 62 is down and restraining the ratchet wheel 60. When the pawl 62 is raised, the warp yarn will only be drawn otf onder tension and will be woven as plain fabric without the terry loops.

The lever 45 (FIG. 1) is connected by means of a wire 56 through a flexible shield 59 to the front left end of the loom below the take-up mechanism (FIG. 4). The

lower end of the wire 56' is fastened to a bellcrank lever 63 which is adapted to raise and lower a rod 64. When the rod 64 is in the lowered position, the woven cloth will be taken up normally with a predetermined number of filling picks inserted per inch of cloth. However, when the rod 64 is raised, the take-up mechanism will discontinue drawing the cloth forward and pinch picks will be placed into the material for the purpose of eliminating the customary crack or thin place which may possibly develop. It is generally desirable to insert pinch picks at the start of plain weaving after changing from terry weaving. A single cycle is usually sufficient and will cause three pinch picks to be placed before the locking lever 56 (FIG. 6) is pivoted which will allow the lever 45 to return to the normal operating position.

The third loom mechanism which may be controlled by a prepared pattern includes the terry cam 65 controlling a terry cam follower (not shown). A wire 56 is secured to the actuating lever 46 and may be enclosed in a flexible shield 59 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). A tension spring 67 extending between the lever 46 and the bracket 21 has been found to be helpful in returning the lever 46 to its normal operating position. The lower end of the wire 56 is fastened to the terry cam lever 68 which is pivotally mounted to and receives vertical motion from the action of a treadle member (not shown). Lever 68 may be pivoted by the wire 56 The upper end of the terry cam lever 68 is notched as at 69 which is adapted to cooperate with a dog 70 secured to a shaft 71. As the treadle member, through said follower responds to the dictates of the cam 65, the lever 68 will impart oscillating motion to the shaft 71 which in turn will actuate the loom reed (not shown) in the manner necessary to form terry loops. When the wire 56 is drawn forward by the actuating lever 46, it will pivot the cam lever 68 out of contact with the dog 70 and its vertical motion will be ineffectual in regard to the shaft 71. When this occurs, the loom will weave plain cloth and terry loops will not be formed until the actuating lever is returned to the normal operating position.

In operation, a pattern tape is set up in which the selective perforations are positioned in siX vertical columns each corresponding to a particular selector finger. A single perforation is sufiicient to signal any particular change in machine operation and by the instant invention, that operation will remain indefinitely in force until a subsequent perforation initiates a further change. It is possible to signal for all three, or even more, changes in loom operation simultaneously. In the preferred embodiment, for example, when the loom is weaving terry material and it is intended to insert a strip of plain weaving, all three actuating levers could be pivoted and locked in the secondary operating position at once. If only three pinch picks were desired, the lever 45 could be released upon the subsequent cycle by having a perforation in the pattern tape presented to the finger 32 which coacts with the locking lever holding the lever 45. This particular lever would then return to its normal operating position which would allow the take-up to operate while the other two levers would remain in their secondary operating position and plain woven material would result. When the strip of plain fabric was sufficiently wide, a single perforation for each locked lever would signal for the two 00- acting selector fingers to be pivoted and thereby release each locked lever. Weaving operations of different durations are possible with this multiple selection pattern controlled device. Selection in a predetermined recurring cycle is initiated by a single call in the prepared pattern. Each selection may be reversed by a further single pattern call.

It will be seen that with the instant invention a pattern call may direct selected controlled elements to a secondary operative position where each will remain until a pattern call directs their release, either together or individually.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a multiple selection pattern controlling device the combination of a slotted drum, an endless pattern tape encompassing said drum, means for imparting cyclic rotation to said drum and said tape, surface deformations in said tape relating to a preferred pattern, pairs of pattern selecting fingers, a separate actuating lever for movement by each one of said pairs of selecting fingers, an individual locking lever for latching each said actuating lever, one selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to move its said actuating lever to a locked selective position, and the second selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to release said actuating lever by contacting its said locking lever.

2. In a multiple selection pattern controlling device the combination of a slotted drum, an endless pattern tape encompassing said drum, means for imparting cyclic rotation to said drum and said tape, surface deformations in said tape relating to a preferred pattern of machine operation, a plurality of pairs of pattern selecting fingers selectively operable through contact with said deformations, 21 separate actuating lever for movement by each one of said pairs of selecting fingers between a normal operating position and a secondary selective position, an individual locking lever for latching each said actuating lever into said secondary selective position, one selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to move its said separate actuating lever from said normal operating position to said secondary position, and the second selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to contact its individual locking lever thereby releasing said actuating lever for movement to said normal operating position.

3. In a multiple selection pattern controlling device the combination of a slotted drum, an endless pattern tape encompassing said drum, means for imparting cyclic rotation to said drum and said tape, surface deformations in said tape relating to a preferred pattern of machine operation, a plurality of pairs of pattern selecting fingers selectively operable through contact with said deformations, a separate actuating lever for movement by each one of said pairs of selecting fingers between a normal operation position and a secondary selective position, an individual locking lever for latching each said actuat ng lever into said secondary selective position, one selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to move its said separate actuating lever from said normal operating position to said secondary position, the second selecting finger of each of said pairs of fingers being adapted to contact its individual locking lever thereby releasing said actuating lever for movement to said normal operating position, said actuating lever being moved to and locked in said secondary position by indication of a single said surface deformation, and said locking lever being moved to release said actuating lever for movement to said normal operating position by indication of a secend said surface deformation.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein each said actuating lever is movable pivotally between said normal operating position and said secondary position, each said actuating lever being adapted to retain one of said positions until being selected in accordance with said preferred pattern.

5. In a multiple-beam terry loom wherein varying weaving operations of different durations are subject to selection in a predetermined recurring cycle, a pattern indicating means including a slotted drum, an endless pattern tape having surface deformations selectively positioned and adapted to be rotated with said drum, controlled means responding to the dictates of said pattern indicating means including a weaving-operation changing means, said changing means comprising a plurality of actuating levers, each one of said actuating levers being movable between a normal operating position and a secondary selective position, a plurality of locking levers adapted for holding each of said actuating levers indefinitely in said secondary selective position, each one of said locking levers being positioned to eifect locking action upon a single actuating lever, a plurality of pattern follower selector fingers including a separate first select-or finger for transmitting indications from said pattern indicating means to each of said actuating levers, and a separate second selector finger for transmitting indications from said pattern indicating means to each said locking lever thereby allowing each of said actuating levers individually to return to said normal operating position.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein a single said surface deformation is sufficient to set each said actuating lever in said secondary position for an indefinite period of time, and a second said single deformation is sufficient to release said actuating lever for movement to said normal operating position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,901,769 3/1933 Parker 139-25 2,463,639 3/1949 Peberdy 66-155 2,861,443 11/1958 Wiesinger 66-155 3,023,595 3/1962 Wiesinger et a1. 66-154 X MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTIPLE SELECTION PATTERN CONTROLLING DEVICE THE COMBINATION OF A SLOTTED DRUM, AN ENDLESS PATTERN TAPE ENCOMPASSING SAID DRUM, MEANS FOR IMPARTING CYCLIC ROTATION TO SAID DRUM AND SAID TAPE, SURFACE DEFORMATIONS IN SAID TAPE RELATING TO A PREFERRED PATTERN, PAIRS OF PATTERN SELECTING FINGERS, A SEPARATE ACTUATING LEVER FOR MOVEMENT BY EACH ONE OF SAID PAIRS OF SELECTING FINGERS, AN INDIVIDUAL LOCKING LEVER FOR LATCHING EACH SAID ACTUATING 